Cicchetti, a retired educator, stepped in as interim immediately following Golubchick’s being placed on leave.

The circumstances surrounding Golubchick’s mandated absence have not been made clear by the school administration, but they maintain they are reviewing letters an attorney representing Golubchick sent to certain employees of the school which asserted legal claims against them. Golubchick has worked for Westport Public Schools for three years and served as principal at Long Lots since July 2015.

In the event Golubchick does not return and Cicchetti finishes out the school year, he will earn approximately $66,000, according to Elio Longo, director of School Business Operations .

Human Resources Director John Bayers said he did not know the time frame for a possible return by Golubchick.

Asked if Cicchetti would become the new principal at Long Lots, Palmer responded, “He’s our interim principal.”

Palmer, who had Cicchetti’s resume on hand before the meeting with the school board, had actually hired Cicchetti in 2012 as the interim principal at Hurlbutt Elementary School in Weston, where Palmer was superintendent at the time.

Cicchetti started his career as a music teacher in Farmington, going on to serve as superintendent of the Berlin Public Schools and of Easton, Redding and Region 9 School districts.

Since retiring in 2011, he has held interim positions as a human resources director of school districts in Darien and Wilton, as well as the interim principal position in Weston. Most recently, he served as the interim chief operations officer in Norwalk.